Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-09-15
Is it q Piece of a Comet?

From paper by William Earl Hid
den, IN the Century, we quote the fol-
lowing: There has recently come into
my possession the ninth iron meteorite
whose fall to the earth has been OBJ
served. 1t Is, moreover, the first
meteorlte which seems to evidence
direct connection with star-shower.
the mass acquires still further inter-
| est from the fact that it is presumably
fragment of the famous comet of
Biela
Astronomers have waited patiently
for the fall to the earth's surface, at
the time of the periodical star-show-
ers, OF something tangible, but until
now they have waited in vain.
In looking over a considerable
amount of astronomical literature,
only one record can be found of the
falling of body to the earth at such
a time; this was near Paris, on the
10th of April, 1904, when 'smany
shooting-starS were seen, and very
large one was said to have been found
on the ground as glowing substance"
From the oath to the Goth of Novem-
Der, 1885, the earth was passing
through train of meteors that pro-
ceeded from the constellation andre
media, and once formed part of
Biela's comet. These meteors are now
known TO astronomers as Andromesies
or Bielids. The maximum of Ehis
shower occurred on the 9th, while it
was yet broad daylight over America,
and at an hour corresponding to II a.
N. at Mazapil, Mexico. Thus, at the
time of the fall of this meteorite, ten
hours after the maximum number of
meteors was observed, the earth was
meeting with only the stragglers of
the train. 1t cannot be doubted that
the cosmical dust proceeding from
the disintegration of Biela's Comet
wholly enveloped the earth and was
seen as meteors from every part of
it. Such was the magnifcence of the
celestial phenomenon that in some
parts of the Eastern Continent unedll-
Gated people believed there would be
no stars left in the sky.
Of the countless host of meteors
which crossed the earth's path on this
9th Of November, only one is as yet
known to have reached the earth's
surface, and this fell near the village of
Mazapil, in the state of Zacatecas,
Mexico, at about nine O'Clock in the
evening. 1t is OF the rare iron-nickel
variety, and weighs ten and quarter
pounds troy.
This mete0rite was presented to me
by ST.. Jose A. V Bonilla, Director-Pro-
fessor of the Zacatecas Observatory,
who received it, five days after it fell.
from the ranchman who saw it descend
from the heavens. This ranchman re-
lated the strapge occurrence as follows
TRANSLATED from the Spanish):
at was about o'clock on the night Of No
vember 9th, when went out to the corral
TO feed certain horses; suddenly ] heard a
loud sizing I noise, exactly as though some
ter, and almost instantly there followed
somewhat loud thad. At once the corral was
covered with a phosphOrescent light, while
suspended in the air were small luminous
sparks as from a rocket. i had not recov-
cred from my surprise before saw this lumin-
GUS air disappear, and there remained on the
ground only such q light as Is made when a
match is rubbed A number of people came
running toward me from the neighboring
houses, and they assisted me in quieting the
horses, which had become very much excited.
We all asked each other what could be the
matter. and we were afraid to walk in the
corral for fear of being burned. When, in {.
few moments, we had recovered from our
fright, the light disappear, and bring
ing lanterns to look Tor the cause, we found a
hole in the ground and in it a ball of light.
We retired 10 q distance, fearing it would eS-
piode and harm us. Looking up TO the sky,
from time 10 time exhalatiOns or stars,
which sJDl went out without noise. We
turned after a little, and found in the hole
hot stone which we could barely ham
die; this On the next day, we saw. iooked like
Il piece Of iron. Ali night IL ra.neu stars. but
saw fall to tne ground, as they all
seemed u be extinguished whiic yet very high
up.
Upon further inquiry we learn that
there was no explosion or detonation
heard, and that the mass penetrated
the eartn only to a depth OF twelve
incHes.
This very circuin stantiaI account
leads US To believe that this meteorite
is the FIRST one 30 b. secured and pre-
served that has come to the earth
during 4 star-sAower.